USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 18
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SAMUEL HINKLEY HOMESTEAD
Two children were born to Samuel Hinkley and wife: Julia, now Mrs. Jesse Holdeman, residing at Lone Tree, and the subject of this sketch. The former is the mother of an interesting family (see biography of Jesse Holdeman), while the latter is the father of six children, five of whom are living.
Following in the footsteps of his progenitors, Wiot R. Hinkley has devoted his energies to farming. On leaving school, he began work upon the old homestead of his parents. His first independent efforts were inaugurated in his twentieth year. When twenty-three he bought his first farm, upon which he lived for four years. On account of the ill health of
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his parents, he sold this place and moved back upon the old farm to care for them. After his father's death he purchased the old Alva Hinkley farm, near the old home. This he im- proved, and sold in December, 1911. He is at present living in Lone Tree, Iowa.
The marriage of Wiot R. Hinkley and Miss Lida Douglas took place in 1886. His wife was born and bred in Johnson county, being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Douglas. As previously stated, six children have blessed their home. Their names in the order of birth are: Ellen Eunice; Frankie Douglas, who died at the age of five years ; Myrtle May ; Mary Jane ; Hazel Pearle; Harry Samuel.
Mr. Hinkley is a republican. The family have been mem- bers of the Christian church for fifteen years. Mr. Hinkley is one of the first members of Lone Tree lodge No. 160, M. B. A., and is active in the work of the order. In his forty-fifth year, he is a sturdy example of the Towa farmer at his best. It is a trite thing to say that he and his kind are the enduring and admirable foundation of the American republic. All thought- ful men will say, "may their like increase."
ANTON FISHER
No further proof of the fact that America affords matchless opportunities for individual success is needed than the ex- perience of some of the foreign-born residents of Johnson county, lowa. The time-worn epigram that "nothing succeeds like success" is given an explanatory setting in this section of the great western state of Iowa. Undoubtedly individual ability and persistent application are essential factors in financial victories, but it is a further fact that a fruitful field for the exercise of these qualifications enters largely into the final solution. Many wealthy citizens of southeastern Iowa came from sections of the old world where the earnest exercise of individual talents and industry availed small returns after many years of application. Transplanted to the fecund re- gions of the new world, these same talents and industry ac- cumulated within a generation ample fortunes for their pos- sessors. In the final analysis of the matter the most that can
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be said as between the individual and the scene of his efforts is that "honors are easy." Nor are the "honors" so inferior that abundant glory may not be given to both factors. Sue- cess, real and honorable, is a fitting crown for any man even in the midst of the congenial conditions of southeastern Iowa. The fact that many fail under seemingly identical advantages only serves to emphasize the worth of the one who succeeds. It may be truly said of Johnson county that its history is glorious with the tales of individual successes, and these, taken in connection with the famous richness of its soil and favorable conditions of its climate, cannot but impress the
RESIDENCE OF ANTON FISHER
student of history with the claims of that county to distinction as one of the regions of American prosperity.
Anton Fisher is a Bohemian whose parents wisely brought him to America and to southeastern Towa when he was young -- thirteen years of age, to be exact. Today, at the age of fifty three, after forty years of effort, Anton Fisher is ac- counted one of the wealthiest men of Lone Tree, esteemed by his neighbors and honored by his fellow citizens with positions of public trust and responsibility. But between the Bohemian boy of thirteen and the American citizen of fifty-three there lies a history of earnest, persistent effort which tells the story of success. Martin and Mary (Shebek) Fisher were the names of our subjeet's parents, and they registered his birth as June
ANTON FISHER
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24, 1857. In 1870 the Fisher family settled in Washington county, lowa, where the elders resided for about ten years, thereafter removing to Nebraska. Father Fisher died in Ne- braska, but the mother still lives in that state.
Anton Fisher spent five years at home on the Washington county farm. At eighteen years of age he determined to learn the harness-makers' trade and for that purpose located at Iowa City and worked two years. Having become a proficient workman, he removed to Lone Tree, where he labored at his trade for ten years. In 1890 he changed from harness-making to the hardware and implement business, and this occupation. he pursued for fifteen years, retiring about five years ago. Since his retirement Mr. Fisher has held the office of county supervisor. the duties of which, with the care of his large property interests, have occupied his time. The day that Au- ton Fisher arrived at Lone Tree he possessed $75.00 in cash, which constituted his entire wealth. Today he owns one of the most beautiful homes in the town, a block of brick business buildings, and numerous farms and other property in Fre- mont township, besides cash in abundance. A simple story of thrift and success - it looks easy, and it is, to the man who will.
The family of Martin Fisher and Mary Shebek was of the old-fashioned variety - that is, it was large. There are nine children living at this writing, namely, in the order of their birth : John (with a family), residing in Nebraska; Wytonie (now Mrs. James Hoolek), living in Nebraska ; Anton ; Fannie (Mrs. Blair), a resident of Los Angeles, California ; James, residing in Nebraska; Mary (now Mrs. Shelton), living in Kansas ; Frank, living in Nebraska ; Annie (now Mrs. Richard- son), living in Nebraska ; Joseph, residing in Nebraska.
Anton Fisher was married in 1875 to Miss Rosa Tormetz, a native of Bohemia, who came to America with her sister when fourteen years of age. Two children were the fruit of this union - Otto, who died five years ago at the age of twenty-six years, and Ada, who is living at home. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
As hitherto indicated, Anton Fisher has held public office considerably. For twelve years he was township trustee: for ten years city councilman of Lone Tree; and for the past five
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Years county supervisor. Unquestioned integrity and ability have characterized his administration of these positions of publie trust. He is a member of the local Lone Tree lodges of I. O. O. F. and M. W. of A., and of Iowa City B. P. O. E.
Near by to the mausoleum of David Kirkpatrick in Lone ' Tree cemetery stands that of the Anton Fisher family. Both are imposing specimens of the tombmakers' art. One of the marble tablets of the Fisher crypt contains the name of Otto, son of Anton and Rosa Fisher, aged twenty-six years and 10 months. Three companion tablets await the coming of the Grim Reaper to receive the inscriptions reciting the names and ages of the surviving members of the family. Thus, even- tually, in the neighborly silence of "God's acre" will repose the dust of two of the wealthiest and most prominent house- holds of Lone Tree. But every friend of the families (and their name is legion) will wish that that day of silence may be long delayed.
ALBERT J. STONEBARGER
The agriculturists of Johnson county, Iowa, as well as the dealers in some of the great stock centers of the country, are indebted to Albert J. Stonebarger for his unremitting care and labor in the breeding of pure-bred Percheron horses dur- ing more than twenty years past. Nearly a score of magnifi- cent specimens of these kings of draft horses may be seen at this writing on Mr. Stonebarger's farm in Fremont township, where our subject has been engaged in farming for the past thirty-five years. The work of Luther Burbank in breeding-up magnificent species of vegetables, fruits, and flowers is not more valuable in its way than the efforts of men like Mr. Stonebarger to produce perfect specimens of horse fleshi. Such work, whether in the conservatory, the orchard, or the stock ranch, is of vast importance, and is worthy of commen- dation.
Mr. Stonebarger's parents, Jacob and Mary (Peebles) Stonebarger, were natives of Pennsylvania, but our subject was born in Ohio May 30, 1856, to which state his parents re- moved at an early day. The elder Stoneharger engaged in the furniture business in the Buckeye state, but became discour-
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aged on account of losses by fire, and decided to seek a change of fortune in Iowa. The trip was made overland by wagon in 1857, our subject being then abont one year old. The settlers located on the homestead now occupied by our subject and lived and died there. Of the children born to them five are living, as follows: Frank, living in South Dakota; on sub- ject ; George, living in Lone Tree; Jacob, living in South Da- kota; Sarah, now Mrs. E. C. Lee, living at Grinnell, Iowa.
Our subject was twenty years of age when he began farming on his own account on the old homestead of his parents. He
RESIDENCE OF A. J. STONEBARGER
has established a record for continuity by remaining on the same place to date. In 1886 he took as his life's companion Miss Mary Hill, a native of Ohio. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stonebarger: Vara, Ethel, Harry, and Wayne, all living at home.
Mr. Stonebarger is a republican and a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He stands high in the esti- mation of his neighbors, and being just past fifty-five years of age, is in the prime of life, with many years of usefulness before him.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
JOSEPH R. CORBETT
Old Ireland has laid Iowa under indebtedness in her contri- bution of the Corbett family to Johnson county. Both parents of Joseph R. were natives of the Emerald Isle. Reference is made to Alexander Corbett and Henrietta Hanley, who were married in their native land and came to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1862, with their growing family. Nine children were born to this estimable conple, now deceased, of whom seven are living. Joseph was the sixth child, being born in JJohnson county August 21, 1865. The other children, in the order of their birth, are as follows: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Fred Palmer,
RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH R. CORBETT
residing at Lyons, Iowa; Edith, now Mrs. Minor Swink, living in Calhoun county, Iowa ; John A., married to Miss Anna Me- Kain, died in September, 1896, being the father of two chil- dren, Guy and Grace; Anna, now Mrs. Jake Hildebrand, liv- ing at Manhattan, Kansas; Belle, who died at the age of ten years; Margaret, now Mrs. William Wolford, living in Louisa county, Jowa; Mary, now Mrs. JJ. M. MeClenan, living in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mr. McClean being a Methodist minister : Sarah, now Mrs. Clarence Forbes, residing in Louisa county, Iowa.
Alexander Corbett was a farmer. He lived until his death,
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October 4, 1908, on the farm which he purchased in Fremont township. His wife's death took place June 21, 1898.
Joseph R. Corbett lived upon a farm until he was twenty- seven years of age. Having been well educated, he took up the profession of a schoolmaster, and in this work, coupled with the business of carpentering and contracting, he engaged from 1892 to 1902, when he entered the lumber business and estab- lished the enterprise in which he is engaged at present, at Lone Tree, Iowa. He has demonstrated his ability as a busi- ness man, and is accounted one of the wealthiest men of Fre- mont township.
Miss Dora Wolford, a native of Louisa county, Iowa, cap- tured the heart of this mature Irish-American, and the couple were married January 1, 1901, Mr. Corbett being at that time thirty-six years of age. A girl and a boy have been born into the home : Irene, aged nine, and Bernard, aged five years. No couple could be more happily mated. Their home, one of the most modern and attractive in Lone Tree, is made wholesome by the presence and ministrations of a queenly wife and the strong, inspiring companionship of a manly, successful hus- band.
Mr. Corbett is a republican. He is a member of the local lodge A. F. & A. M. of Lone Tree, of the I. O. O. F., M. W. A., and the K. of P. of the same place. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church of Lone Tree.
JESSE HOLDEMAN
It would be hard to imagine a more interesting occupation than that of the construction of the various edifices which com- pose one of the picturesque villages of eastern Iowa. Aside from the mere fascination of seeing the structures one after another take form, there is the relationship of buildings ať- fecting the general scheme and grouping of the town, which invariably appeals to the artistic workman. It is said that "a man is made by his tailor," and if this is true of men, may it not be said with equal force that a town is made by its archi- tect and builder? Necessarily every workman leaves the im- press of his personality upon the products of his hands and brain. "The thumb-marks of the potter are on every vessel
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of his craftship." Logically, therefore. the character of the builder of a city is written upon its edifices and carved upon its doorposts. Following this reasoning, it may be said with exactness that the town of Lone Tree, lowa, bears the impress of the intelligence of Jesse Holdeman, for he has been its lead- ing constructive genins. A list of his work would embrace the High School building, the Kirkpatrick Opera House block, the Fisher Opera House block and adjoining buildings, the City Hall, together with merous other public buildings and many dwellings. Lone Tree is pronounced " an attractive little city"' by strangers who enter its gates. A generous share of this compliment must fall upon the work-table of Jesse Holdeman.
Jesse Holdeman, by birth, is a son of old Michigan, but by residence, education, and experience he is a son of lowa. Born in Berrien county, Michigan, March 11, 1862, he removed at the age of four years with his parents to Iowa and settled with them near Independence in 1866. His father was Lewis Z., a native of Ohio, and his mother Sarah Mangus, a native of Michigan. The family went to Iowa City in 1884, where the father died in the fall of the same year. The mother remained at Iowa City for several years, when she removed with her family to Peoria, Illinois, there residing for quite a lengthy period. At present she resides with a daughter at Hammond, Louisiana.
Eleven children were born to Lewis Z. Holdeman and Sarah Mangus, seven of whom reached maturity, four dying in infancy. The names of the seven. in the order born, are as follows:
Mary E .. living in Canton, Ilinois ; Jesse, Lone Tree, Iowa : Frank A., who died at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, May, 1900; Fred. whose home is at Peoria, Illinois; Florence, now Mrs. George Piper, residing at Canton, Illinois: Fannie. now Mrs. T. Les- ter Smythe. living at Hanmond, Lonisiana ; Lewis M., residing at or near Elkhart, Indiana.
Jesse Holdeman has followed faithfully the conjugal ex- ample of his father. Ile is the father of twelve children, eleven of whom are living. Miss Julia Z. Hinkley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hinkley, whom he married in October, 1885, is the mother of this interesting group. We use the term "in- teresting" advisedly, for among the neighbors at Lone Tree
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it is common talk that there are no more attractive young people in the community than the boys and girls of the Holde- man household, in the older of whom splendid character and wholesome accomplishments are delightfully intermingled.
The following is the roster of the children of Jesse and Julia Holdeman :
Glen, now Mrs. Roy Huffman, residing at Lone Tree: Berna, a graduate of Wesleyan College, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. assistant principal-elect of Lone Tree public school, residing at home; Lillian, now Mrs. Glen Burr, living on a farm in Johnson county; Harley Z., employed at the Lone Tree Re- porter office (the four just named are graduates of the Lone Tree high school) ; Bessie, graduate of class of 1911 of the Lone Tree high school; Elsie, in class of 1912; Lucy; Perry; Vernon ; Leslie; Kenneth (the last seven residing at home).
Julia Z. Hinkley, wife of JJesse Holdeman, is the daughter of Samuel Hinkley and Adelaide Perkins. Her father was a son of Luther Hinkley and Eunice Burdick, and was born in Brookfield, New York. His grandfather, Wiot Hinkley, emi- grated from Connecticut to Brookfield, New York, by ox-team in 1796, entting his way through the heavy timber to locate his farm. He died on his farm there September 22, 1815, aged seventy-six years. Luther, his son, succeeded him on the same farm and there died September 26, 1859. Sammel Hinkley and his brother Henry L. came together to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1855. The former died at the advanced age of ninety years ; the latter resides at Lone Tree. Another brother, Alva, who spent the greater part of his life in the cast, came to Johnson county in 1860, acquired property in the county and died there. Two children were born to Samuel Hinkley and Adelaide Perkins, viz: Julia Z. and Wiot R., the latter now living on the old Alva Hinkley farm. A more extended history of the Hinkley family will be found elsewhere in this volume.
Jesse Holdeman is now serving his third term as mayor of Lone Tree. His familiarity with the affairs of the city, ac- quired during two terms' service as city clerk, stands him well in hand as chief executive. In politics he is a republican. IFe is a member of Omega lodge No. 728, 1. O. O. F ... of Lone Tree.
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ANDREW McCONCHIE CRAWFORD
Andrew McConchie Crawford was born in Creetown, Scot- land, May 11, 1838. He was the baby of the family when his parents, Hugh and Jeanette (McConchie) Crawford, left bon- ny Scotland for America. Fifteen years after their arrival the family decided to locate in Iowa, so in 1854 they landed in Johnson county. The father settled upon a farm in the bounds of what is now Lincoln township, and carried on agriculture until 1867, when he moved to Fowa City, spending the re- mainder of his life there. Andrew, in 1862, when twenty-four years of age, settled on a farm in Fremont township. In
RESIDENCE OF ANDREW M'CONCHIE CRAWFORD
1866 he removed to the farm, which has been his home ever since.
Six children were born to Hugh Crawford and Jeanette McConchie : Hugh, married, raised a family and lived until his death in 1907 on a farm in Johnson county; William, came to Johnson county with the family, was married here, moved to Cedar county in 1877, was a soldier of the Civil War in the Twenty-second Iowa from 1862 to 1865, died about 1900, and is buried at Lisbon, Iowa; our subject; Robert, died in 1856, aged fourteen ; Margaret, married J. K. Corlett, of Iowa City, died in June, 1911; Jessie, who died in the spring of 1864, aged twelve years. Both Father and Mother Crawford are buried at Iowa City.
Andrew Crawford
NOLIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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Andrew McConchie Crawford was married January 8, 1867, to Miss Jeanette Allison, a native of Ontario, Canada, in which province the marriage took place. They have four living children : William, married, residing in Lone Tree ; Jessie, now Mrs. Horace Klotz, of Muscatine county; Thomas, married and living on a farm in Muscatine county; Walter, a retired farmer, married and living in Lone Tree. Mrs. Crawford died in May, 1909.
Mr. Crawford took for his second wife Mary Steel Russell, a native of Scotland, to whom he was married in March, 1911.
Mr. Crawford has been a lifelong republican, and, as may be inferred, was born and raised a Presbyterian. He has al- ways been identified with farm life. ITis home farm, which is one of the most beautiful in the county, he developed from raw, wild prairie. For years he has been an extensive im- porter of Clydesdale horses, and has all his life taken a great interest in the development of good stock, both cattle and horses. His latest importation of Clydesdales was in May, 1911. The public spirit of Mr. Crawford has led him to active- ly cooperate with every movement tending towards the public good.
DAVID JAYNE
David Jayne, from both the main branches of his family, came from fighting stock. His mother was Katherine Gar- dener, great-granddaughter of Captain Gardener, of Revolu- tionary fame; her grandfather fought also in the Revolution in the company of his father. John W. Jayne, his father, en- listed in the fall of 1861 in Company B, Sth Iowa Infantry, and served in the Civil War until the battle of Shiloh, when he and his entire regiment were captured and imprisoned; when re- leased, in 1862, he was unfit for service and was honorably discharged. His father (our subject's grandfather) was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his grandfather a soldier of the Revolution.
David Jayne was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1845, near the Delaware river, just across the line from where his father was born in Broome county, New York,
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January 28, 1820. His mother was born in Cooperstown, in the Mohawk valley, New York, November 29, 1813.
In 1854 the family removed to Scott county, Iowa, where they resided for two years, after which they established a home on a farm in Muscatine county. The father devoted his sum- mers to agriculture and his winters to teaching school until the beginning of the Civil War. On his return from service he was elected clerk of the courts of Muscatine county and served in that capacity for six years. In the spring of 1870 he settled in Johnson county on a large farm, upon a part of which, in 1872, he laid out a portion of the town of Lone Tree. He continued the business of farming until 1889, when he re-
RESIDENCE OF DAVID JAYNE
tired. At that time he was appointed postmaster of Lone Tree, under President Harrison, and served four years. Fol- lowing his term as postmaster he took up the business of fire insurance, which he followed successfully until July 23, 1908, when he was injured by a runaway team, dying from his in- juries on the 26th of the same month. Mother Jayne died March 29, 1898.
Our subject first engaged in farming in Muscatine county, and thereafter in Johnson county on the old homestead of his father. He now resides in the house which was the old farm- house. Retiring from farming in 1892, he served as assistant postmaster of Lone Tree during 1892-3; thereafter he wrote fire insurance with his father until the latter's death, since
DAVID JAYNE
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which time he has continued the business. His adaptability to his particular work is shown by the fact that he wrote during the month of April, 1911 (figures taken by ourselves), over $80,000 in fire insurance.
David Jayne was married June 2, 1897, to Rebecca Satter- thwaite, a native of Ohio, who came to Muscatine county with her parents when about fifteen months of age. The couple were classmates thirty years before their marriage, and, as may be inferred, their domestic relations have been most pleasant.
Although a republican in national polities, Mr. Jayne has pursued a liberal policy with respect to local government. He is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias.
HENRY LUTHER HINKLEY
About thirty miles due south of Utica, New York, is the village of Brookfield, Madison county. There, in the year 1796, Wiot Hinkley emigrated from Connectient with his fam- ily. The journey was an arduous one and fraught with some danger. An ox team was the means of locomotion, and the travelers frequently had recourse to their sturdy axes to cut a pathway through the primeval forest. But the anticipation of a home of their own, with the blessings of liberty, coupled with the irresistible urge of the frontier and the American am- bition for action, spurred them on in spite of obstacles to their destination. Near Brookfield, Wot Hinkley, then a man of 67, selected his homestead and began operations as a farmer. There he lived, loved, and labored for nine years, when he died. His son Luther succeeded him on the farm, and, following in the footsteps of his father, lived on the old homestead for forty-four years, dying there September 26, 1859.
Luther Hinkley and his wife, Eunice Burdick, were natives of Connectient, and never knew any life but that of the farm. Little wonder it is that their youngest son, looking back over his life's occupation at the age of eighty-nine years, says of himself that he has "been a steady farmer." And there is no more honorable occupation, and the Hinkley family of Johnson county, direct descendants of the intrepid Wiot, ar-
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